Gold Fields Ghana Ltd. supports Tarkwa Nsuaem Health Directorate with over 70K pieces of PPEs
Over 70,000 pieces of Protective gear (Personal Protective Equipment) and sanitary items, courtesy Gold Fields Ghana Limited, have been donated to the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Health Directorate to support the fight against COVID 19.
The items which are expected to be distributed evenly to all health facilities in the municipality included; 37,500 pairs of hand gloves, 20,000 pieces of pocket-sized hand sanitizers, 1,200 large bottles of hand sanitizers, 8,000 pieces of surgical masks, 7,000 pieces of N95 masks, 1,500 pieces of protective gowns, 800 pieces of sample collection kits, 180 pairs of surgical wellington boots, 80 pieces of safety goggles, 60 pieces of Macintosh aprons, 70 hand-held non-contact infra-red thermometers, and 50 veronica buckets.
General Manager, Gold Fields Ghana Limited- Tarkwa Mine, Mr. Stephen Osei-Bempah recalled that the initiative is a fulfillment of a pledge made by the company to city authorities during a crisis meeting on 23 March, 2020. The meeting was held among authorities of the municipal assembly, companies and other stakeholders in the jurisdiction, and was aimed at raising funds and other technical support to fight the disease and mitigate its impact on host communities.
Mr. Osei-Bempah intimated that the company as a responsible corporate citizen couldn’t have reneged on its obligation in the fight against the pandemic.
“We have responded accordingly, because as a good and responsible corporate citizen, we owe it a duty to support the Committee [Municipal Committee on COVID 19] so that together, we can prevent the spread of the virus in our municipality” he said as he presented the items to the beneficiary.
He disclosed that the company had earmarked an amount of USD 400 million to support host communities in fighting the pandemic, and a total of USD 433 million donated through the Chamber of Mines, to the National COVID 19 Trust Fund to enhance healthcare delivery and mitigate the socio-economic impact of the pandemic.
All these, Mr. Osei-Bempah explained; “falls within a comprehensive COVID 19 Response Plan”, that was developed upon Ghana’s first recorded incidence of the disease.
He clarified that the items donated, is a first batch of a package being offered by the company, adding that several others, including two ambulances that the Executive Vice President, on behalf of the Gold Fields Foundaion promised during the sod cutting ceremony of the Tarkwa and Abosso (T&A) stadium project, will be delivered soon.
“In view of the urgent need for ambulance by the Municipal Committee on COVID 19, the Tarkwa Mine has decided to fast track the purchase of the two ambulances” he added.
Municipal Health Director, Mr. Emmanuel Affelkum was very much appreciative of the gesture, and thus scored that “this is the time that we have seen the partnership moved to another level in our development”
He observed that the collective effort and commitment demonstrated by partners, especially Gold Fields, is reassuring in the fight against the COVID 19 pandemic.
Mr. Affelkum promised to avail these logistics to all health centers in the municipality, to serve the purpose for which it was intended.
He remarked that the sampling collection kits donated by Gold Fields will enhance their surveillance and testing for the disease.
“…that will go a long way to helping our efforts in responding to any emergencies as and when we are called to. And so I want to task the health team present to as quickly as possible, after receiving the items to go into action in collaboration with the assembly, the COVID Response Team to do the due diligence in redistributing the items” he mentioned.
The Municipal Chief Executive for the area, Gilbert Kenneth Asmah also commended Gold Fields for the support. He took the opportunity to entreat other partners to emulate the gesture.
